Animal trap



O. H. OLEEN Jan. 18, 1949.

ANIMAL TRAP Filed Aug. 20, 1946 .LE-G1 --==UN 1 1 -EVD `sTATEsf= PATENT oFFicE 7 My invention relatesto improvements in animal traps for rodents, especially moles, gophers,

and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple form of highly efficient trap for insertion in the mouth of holes or burrows made by rodents, and which is adapted to be sprung by the rodent attempting to issue out of the mouth of the hole, or burrow, and when sprung to render the animal helpless, and/or kill the same.

Another object is to provide a trapof the character and for the purpose above set forth which may be so cheaply manufactured that it may be disposed of with a, rodent caught therein without loss of any consequence compared with the ad- Vantage gained.

Other and subordinate objects, also comprehended by my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements and the advantages thereof, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims lare read with reference to the drawing accompanying and proved animal trap in the illustrated, preferred embodiment thereof, has the form of an elongated clasp formed of a single piece of resilient rod material, such as spring steel wire of heavy gauge, and which is bent upon itself to provide a pair of opposed, spaced apart side arms 2 connected together at one end by a coil spring 3 acting to spread said side arms apart. At the other ends of the same, said side arms 2 terminate in a pair of lateraI, oppositely curved, arcuate jaws 4 forming bent extensions of said side arms 2 on one and the same side of the trap and adapted to be separated into open position by flexing of the side arms 2 toward each other into a set position, all as shown in Figures 1 and 2. As will be notecl in Figure 2, the 'jaws 4 when open form a substa-ntially brokenellipse with a gap 5 between the free ends thereof. The free ends of the jaws 4 are adapted, by sharpening, to4 form impaling tips 6 on said jaws. As bestshown in Figure 3, the jaws 4 are arranged to lie in relatively augu- `pplication.tglAilfrlst 20, 1946, Serial No. 691,714` `liltlairn. (01.43-85) lar planes so that the same will cross each other in interlapping relation to limit the spreading of the side arms 2.

`A catch 'l is provided for maintaining the side arms 2 set against spreading apart, and the jaws 4 open. The catch 1 is formed from a single piece of rigid wire bent upon itself to provide a bridging arm 8 adapted to extend crosswise of the side arms 2, and a straight arm 9 adapted to extend laterally of the side arms 2 on the same side thereof las the jaws 4 and in the same manner as said jaws. The arm 8 terminates in an eye 10 loosely surrounding one side arm 4 so that the catch 1 is slidable and freely swingable on said side arm. At the juncture of said arms 8, 9, the catch is formed with a lateral loop comprising a hook H for catching over the other side arm 2.

To set the described trap, the side arms 2 are set by flexing toward each other and the catch 'I is then swung on theeside arm 2 on which it is mounted, across the other side arm 2 with the hook ll caught over said other side arm 2. Thus the side arms 2 are maintained set against separation, and the jaws 4 are set into open position. Wit'h the latch 'l swung to apply the same, as described, the arm 9 of said latch extends at a substantial right angle to one side arm 2, on the same side as the jaws 4. In applying the latch 1, the same is first slid toward the jaws 4 'into a position such that a rodent entering in between the jlaws 4 will contact the arm 9 before it clears said jaws. With the trap set as described, it is inserted, the jaws 4 forem'ost, into a rodent hole,

or burrow, not shown. A rodent issuing out of the hole, or burrow, is forced to pass between the open jaws 4 and when substantially half way past said jaws is forced to contact the arm 9 of the latch 1, thereby rocking said latch on the side bar 2, on which it is mounted, so that the hook Ill is canted into a position for releasing the side bar 2 over which it was positioned. As soon as the latch 'l is thus rocked and the hook 10 canted into the position describecl, the side arms 2 spring apart and thus separate to move the jaws 4 toward each other to clamp the rodent therebetween and force the impaling tips 6 into the rodent. Thus the rodent is caught, to expire. or be disposed of as desired.

As will be noted, the described trap is formed of two parts only, both of which are readily obtainable and may be pre-formed at a very low cost, and the parts will not readily get cut of order nor break and render the trap useless. Also, the trap may be easily and quickly set `with Safety and is adapted to be positioned in a rodent hole, or bu'ow, quickly and easily.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiioe to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended olaim. i

What I claim' is:

A rodent trap comprising a pair of side arms, a spring connecting said arms together at one end thereof and tending to spread said 418111115 apart, a pair of arcuate rigid jaws on the other ends of said arms extending laterally t'herefror'n4 in opposed oppositely curving relation and in substantially right angular relation thereto for movement toward each other by spreading 'of said side arms to clampingly engage a rodent 20 ment of said side arms, and a latch arm swingable on one side arm across the other side arm With a terminal hook for engaging over said other side arm to prevent said side arms from spreading apart, said latch arm being swingable into releasing position and being provided with a right angled latch swinging arm on said hook for contact by the rodent while the rodentv is between said jaws.

REFERENCES cI'rED The following references are of record in the a file -of this patent:

- IUNITED STA'I'ES PATENTS I Number Name Date 619,175 Heda Feb. 7, 1899 1343,589 Ricker June 15, 1915 1,981,785 Donadei Nov. 20, 1934 1,998,521 Piekermg, Jlr. inne. Apr. 23,1935 

